General Medicine

» Elaine Moore - Graves into remission - feeling hyPO now showing slight hyPER

In response to Graves into remission - feeling hyPO now showing slight hyPER posted by dinidini:
Hi,
Total T4 and T3 levels are frequently elevated in women because of estrogen influences. Tests for FT4 and FT3 are more accurate because they measure free, available hormone. If you have TSH receptor antibodies your TSH results may be falsely decreased. Your lab results can be misleading in this case, which is why symptoms are more important than lab results.

About 20% of patients with Graves' disease spontaneously move into hypothyroidism. Blood tests for total TSH receptor antibodies along with a TSI level would help tell if this is the problem, and tests for FT4 and FT3 would more accurately determine your thyroid status. The hypothyroidism that develops in people with Graves' disease is often mild but it still needs to be treated with replacement hormone to help slow down the gland and reduce thyroid antibody production. This form of hypothyroidism may, like the hyperthyroidism, resolve on its own although it can be permanent. Best, Elaine